75+ Best Coloring Books for Adults

It’s time to relive your childhood – coloring books are back!

Recently, sales of coloring books for grown-ups have skyrocketed, and bookstores are having more trouble keeping certain coloring books on the shelves than even popular titles like 50 Shades of Grey. These bestselling coloring books are billed as “color therapy” or cheap stress relief, a time for adults to unplug from the rush of the digital world and just sit down with a few coloring pages and a nice set of colored pencils. What more could you ask for?

A community of “colorists” is growing up around the trend. Colorists use their coloring books to perfect their shading skills, and share the results online in communities or in the reviews for the books they are working on. Some colorists use coloring as an opportunity to explore new topics, like Victorian mansions or art deco, that they might not have taken the time to explore otherwise.

And hey, got a friend who is really stressed out? These adult coloring books make great gifts for that friend who just can’t seem to calm down.

This page contains affiliate links. That means, if you buy anything, you’ll help me pay for my coloring book addiction. Enjoy this list and I hope you find your next favorite coloring book!

There’s so much more to coloring book therapy than just staying inside the lines.

Many books billed as “adult coloring books” specifically contain incredibly detailed designs that might frustrate a younger child but are perfect for giving us just the right amount of mental taxation. You can practice your shading and come up with some really incredible artwork. Some encourage you to doodle within their doodles.

And at the end, you don’t have to just close away your artwork and shove it back into the shelf – you can take that artwork and share it with the world, either by posting it online or by framing it and hanging it on your wall. Embrace your favorite designs!

Here are the 75 best coloring books for adults.

Many of these coloring books have had their fair share of time at the top of Amazon’s best sellers list for coloring books, and a few have even made it into the best sellers for books overall. The coloring books for adults below have been organized into categories like patterns and architecture, depending on what you’re in the mood for coloring.

Don’t know what you’re in the mood for? That’s okay! Scroll through and find what leaps out at you. Coloring books are really inexpensive (typically in the $5-20 range!) so it’s perfectly fine to get a handful to figure out what you like. Remember, it’s way cheaper than a therapist and will provide you hours and hours of enjoyment!

I’ve tried to provide notes about the types of designs in these books, the thickness of the paper, and any other special features worth noting, but in some ways, the Amazon reviews are your best friend when deciding what to buy. Click through to read them! Often, other colorists will share a few pages from the book or share their colored-in masterpieces.

If there’s anything really vital I’m missing, I would LOVE it if you took the time to leave me a note in the comments below. And if your favorite coloring book isn’t in this list, I’d like to know about that, too!

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One last quick tip: Did you know that you can get your coloring books in just TWO DAYS with FREE shipping by signing up for a free trial of Amazon Prime? That’s almost as fast as buying coloring books at the store, except you get a million times the selection (I mean, just look at this list) and you don’t even have to change out of your PJs! (Win-win!)

The trial lasts for 30 days, and there is no minimum order price in order to get the free shipping (without Prime, you generally need to hit $35 to get the free shipping, and even then, you don’t get it in just two days)! Get those books ASAP by signing up for the free trial (click here!), and if you don’t want to keep the Prime benefits, just cancel before your 30 days are up. You might end up loving Prime, too — I know we do! With the amount we order from Amazon, I’m sure our Prime membership has paid for itself many times over in quick, free shipping.

Click the buttons below to jump to the different genres of adult coloring books:

Pattern Coloring Books for Adults

These books all take doodling to a new level. Patterns are some of the most stress-busting designs of all to color because the repetition allows you to really get in the zone about your color selection and shading. You can focus on choosing a pleasing palette instead of getting bogged down in the “right” colors. They’re a great place to start for beginners, although some colorists prefer more concrete topics like animals or architecture.

This beautiful collection of mandalas, flowers, animals, and paisley patterns was just recently released and already has skyrocketed to be a #1 bestseller on Amazon. The book features 48 images printed on one side only inspired by henna, which vary in complexity from reasonably minimal to ideal for experienced colorists. This is really a coloring book that can grow with your coloring skills. Markers bleed through the pages, so be sure to protext the next one with a few sheets of paper.

If you love mandalas, you’re in for a treat. This collection of 30 mesmerizing kaleidoscopic mandalas illustrated by John Wik is printed one per side on medium weight paper. The book offers a good mix of wide spaces for gradient shading and fine details, and it is just repetitive enough to really let you sink into the color selection process. Like all Creative Haven books, the pages are perforated for easy removal.

Angie Grace’s beautiful stress-busting coloring book for adults is full of 50 circular patterned illustrations, or mandalas, printed on just one side of the page. Paper is of medium weight and pens like the Staedtler Triplus Fineliners should be fine, but you might need to put a scrap page behind to accommodate for bleed from larger markers.

While this coloring book is a little less abstract than some of the books in this part of the list, the expansive doodles of landscapes, keys, and rooms will give you a lot of room for colorful creativity. This adult coloring book has dozens of gorgeous illustrations printed on one side. Alongside the illustrations are mindfulness quotes and affirmations to keep your stress down.

This book, designed for maximum relaxation, features around 30 illustrations printed on just one side of the page. From feathers to loops and swirls, this book is great for new colorists or for experienced colorists planning to practice their shading. Pages are printed on just one side, making them safe for markers.

This brand new release is an inspirational, spiritual book that celebrates the joy of putting color to the page. The book features animals, repeating patterns, florals, and scripture set in gorgeous typography. Its 128 perforated pages are printed on just one side, making them safe for markers. In addition to regular coloring pages, you’ll find bookmarks, gift tags, and cards that make it easy to share the joy of coloring with your friends and family. Today is going to be a GREAT day, with this coloring book!

This meditative coloring book was designed by an art therapist and an illustrator to calm you down with 100 high-quality illustrations of mandalas, geometric patterns, water scenes, wooded scenes, animals, and more. Designs are printed on just one side of the page.

Color Me Stress-Free is an upcoming addition to Lacy Mucklow and Angela Porter’s Color Me series (which was why I wasn’t able to find a page screenshot!). Judging by the popularity of the two earlier volumes, above, this one is sure to please!

Can’t sleep? Don’t fret — this book will be the perfect wind-down from a stressful, busy day. Keep it and a pack of pencils on your nightstand so you can always turn and spend a few minutes engrossed in a coloring project when you’re tossing and turning.

If you love the bold and beautiful iconography of the age of art deco, this pattern coloring book for adults is for you. Part of the Cool Colouring Books series, the illustrations are printed on just one side on a medium weight paper that can support ink and, according to the publisher, even paint!

The Mindfulness Coloring Book has a great mixture of full page patterned doodles and more real-life patterns, like waves and sets of teacups. 70 gorgeous designs are printed edge to edge in this pocket-sized 5″x7″ book. The petite size makes this coloring book the perfect companion for flights or waiting rooms.

Jenn Ski is an extremely talented illustrator obsessed with mid-century designs. The 30 designs come printed single-sided with perforated pages to make it easy to detach and frame your finished colorings. The paper is heavier than that of most coloring books, allowing all but the darkest of inks to stay put without bleeding through.

Enjoy mandalas? Then you’ll love this book which is entirely composed of them! It is an older Dover coloring book to be sure, but the ecstatic reviewers keep coming back to it with delight. Ome of them even ordered a stack to try in different color combinations! There are 30 illustrations on both sides of medium-weight paper. Markers will bleed through, so you might prefer colored pencils for this one.

Marty Noble has brought her illustration talents to this collection of paisley-inspired designs. Thirty illustrations are printed on the front and back of the page, so the book is not suited for markers, and reviewers warn that too much pressure from colored pencils can transfer the ink to the page behind, so be sure to protect it with a blank page slid in between. You’re sure to find hours of entertainment in this collection.

Travel / Architecture Coloring Books for Adults

Architecture coloring books are some of my favorites. I’ve also labeled this section “travel” because many of these books allow you to explore a new part of the country or world. You can look up real-world images of these places as you color them, or, you know, totally recolor them. The Eiffel Tower looked better in purple anyway.

This Dover coloring book has always been one of my favorites. The book features exterior shots and interior illustrations of a typical Victorian-era home. Dollhouse lovers and interior design buffs will love this high-quality book with descriptions alongside each image.

With some of the finest detail work I’ve ever seen in a coloring book, this new architectural coloring masterpiece is definitely best suited for an adult. Color an entire city the way your heart desires, from high aerial shots to street views and even unique kaleidoscopic images. I’ve literally been waiting months to get my hands on it!

This #1 Amazon bestseller is a very recent release that has received much acclaim. Each of the 42 illustrations feature fantastical cities and takes up a full two page spread. Pages are not as thick as some, so colored pencils are recommended.

Experience the secret world of Paris in this beautiful coloring book. Scenes include streets, rooftops, patterns, objects, and more. As a warning, do not use markers in this book — illustrations are printed on both sides of the page and the ink will bleed through.

Get ready – this upcoming book by the same artist as Secret Paris, Zoe de Las Cases, will explore New York City on the same level as her last book. Preorder now to receive the book upon its release this October.

This lovely coloring book by Creative Haven takes colorists around the world to visit cities like Amsterdam (shown), Paris, London, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City. Each page is perforated, printed on just one side, and includes a hidden picture.

Animal Coloring Books for Adults

Animals are one of the most popular coloring book topics for children, but there are a lot of more detailed coloring books perfect for adults, too. If you have a favorite animal, there’s probably a coloring book devoted to it. Some of these books are unique because they include beautiful doodles within the animals – giving them a whole new dimension and realm of possibilities.

With their feathers and wide eyes, owls are a popular subject for animal coloring books. This book takes the owls one step further, including lots of abstract doodles to color in whatever hues you desire. These 30 highly-detailed owls are perched against vivid backgrounds. Pages are of medium weight and single-sided and perforated for easy removal.

Stress Relieving Animal Designs is a #1 bestseller from Amazon, and it’s no wonder why. These amazing animal designs are printed one animal per page, with a blank background and the reverse left blank. The pages are somewhat thin, so you will want to protect the next page by sliding another few sheets of paper underneath if you color it with pens, gel pens, or markers.

This book is the second volume of stress-relieving animal designs, by the creators of the book above. Thirty ocean animal designs are printed one animal per page, with a blank background. Once you finish coloring these fish, jellyfish, sharks, octopi, and other ocean animals, they are perfect for cutting out and putting up on your wall! Like the prior volume, pages are a little thin, so protect the design behind with a few sheets of paper if you use ink-based coloring supplies.

Let these lovingly-patterned animals take you to another place. Each of these 30 animal designs are patterned with intricate loops and swirls, giving you the opportunity to color them with a collection of shades instead of just shading large areas in one color. The book includes ideas for how to color the animals, plus some doodling and coloring guidance. You’ll need to use colored pencils, gel pens, or fine-tipped markers in order to truly take advantage of the detail of this book.

Break out the colored pencils and get ready to color some finely dressed animals! Thaneeya McArdle has grown quite a following for her fun coloring books that are just begging to be colored. This one is perfect for both novice and experienced colorists who love fashions and furry friends. Each of the 30 illustrations is printed on just one side of the page on thick, easily-removable paper perfect for any medium.

This gorgeous book by Wendy Piersall blends intricate mandalas with beautiful ocean imagery ranging from mermaids to dolphins to whales and waves. The illustrations are repetitive enough to be relaxing but the whimsical, interlaced designs keep them interesting. The book is available on Amazon for preorder with Amazon’s price guarantee (if the price goes down between when you order and the release date, Amazon will give you the lowest price) and becomes available in mid-December. Give yourself the gift of creative relaxation this holiday season!

Looking for something a little different? This coloring book by Creative Haven may be exactly what you are looking for. Featuring more than 30 ornately patterned grasshoppers, beetles, butterflies, ladybugs, and more, you are sure to find an insect you’d like to transform with color inside this book.

Lost Ocean is the latest title by world-reknowned illustrator Johanna Basford, who spearheaded the adult coloring book movement with her earlier books Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest (see these two below in the Floral section). Get lost in an intricate underwater world blossoming with plant and animal life, including fish, octopi, seahorses, and starfish. Explore the bottom of the ocean, shipwrecks, and even discover the pirate’s treasure. The book is available for preorder (order now, and Amazon will give you the lowest preorder price between when you order and when the book becomes available) and will be out in late October.

Fans of highly-detailed adult coloring books will love Kerby Rosanes’ illustrations, which feature an immensely detailed animal morphing into a wild collection of doodles. The book is available for preorder and will be available in mid-October.

Get lost in wildly patterned pages printed right to the edge and featuring all of your favorite animals. There are a total of 88 pages to color, which are printed on the front and back of heavy weight paper. Markers are not recommended since they could bleed, and you should test your gel pens before using them, but the designs are perfect for colored pencils. (page preview found here)

This beautiful coloring book follows a bird on an adventure across a wide variety of fantastical landscapes. The book’s 51 illustrated are printed on one side of the page on medium weight paper that stands up to many gel pens and markers. A dotted line serves as a guide for cutting out the pages.

If you like the art deco style, you’ll love this Creative Haven collection of art deco patterned animals. The book’s 31 elegant designs are printed on just one side of perforated pages for easy removal.

Jenn Ski’s gorgeous mid-century style makes a comeback in this collection of 30 mid-century modern animals. Designs are printed on one side of a medium-weight, perforated page.

Floral Coloring Books for Adults

Floral scenes and patterns are very popular. Some books take a more abstract approach, filling the pages with abstract floral-themed doodles, while others take more of a still-life approach. Regardless of your preference, floral books are the perfect canvas for perfecting your shading, because petals present a challenging set of highlights and shadows.

This #1 New York Times Bestseller by Johanna Basford is sure to delight colorists who love filling in floral designs. With page after page of animals set into forested scenery, this book boasts 82 pages of illustrations printed front and back. The jacket is colorable, as well as a full four-page fold-out at the end of the book. Because of the two-sided pages, this book is not suitable for thick markers, but some reviewers seem to indicate that Staedtler Triplus Fineliners work fine.

Another fabulous book by Johanna Basford, Secret Garden takes colorists through an ornate garden full of friendly creatures and insects to color. Pages are printed on both sides of medium weight paper, so markers will probably bleed through but the book is perfect for colored pencils.

Vive Le Color! Japan is an experienced colorist’s dream come true. This book, due out in mid-August, boasts many special features missing from popular adult coloring books like Secret Garden or Enchanted Garden. There are 72 illustrations printed on just one side of the page, making the book perfect for whatever medium you’d like to use in it. The sheets are bound at the top as opposed to the side, making it equally useful for left- and right-handed colorists, and pages detach easily. Finally, it has a thick cardboard back, making it easy to color in your lap! Right now, the book is over 50% off on Amazon – preorder your copy today!

This high-quality Creative Haven coloring book is due out in mid-December, and I’m really excited about it because of the black backgrounds, which are guaranteed to make any choice of colors pop! Like all Creative Haven books, pages are printed on just one side and are perforated for easy removal. The book features 31 gorgeous designs.

This classic 1987 letterform coloring book from Dover is one I fondly remember from my childhood! Available for just a few dollars on Amazon, this book is a must-have for colorists who enjoy realistic florals. There are 26 pages to color (one per letter), printed on just one side of the page.

Science Coloring Books for Adults

Want to actually learn something while you color? These science-themed coloring books will give you a great introduction to a new subject, or they’ll be a great learning aid if you’re currently studying them!

The world’s premiere anatomy coloring book and a bestseller on Amazon, The Anatomy Coloring Book has been the standard anatomy coloring book for more than 35 years. Illustrations are precise, clearly labeled, and designed to increase understanding.

Have you ever wanted to color in those gorgeous black and white images in the encyclopedia? No? Maybe that was just me. In case you feel the same way, though, this brilliant book collects vintage-style illustrations to color.

Artwork Coloring Books for Adults

The Tattoo Coloring Book features a large variety of tattoo-inspired artwork with patches of gold printed within them. The paper is quite heavy, making it perfect for whatever medium you prefer. Whether you are planning some body art for yourself or just enjoy the edgy subject matter, you’re sure to enjoy this unique book.

Do you love traditional Japanese art? Are you interested in Japanese culture? This book is a great way to create your own versions of classic Japanese artworks like the wave. Designs are printed on both sides of the page, so avoid markers.

Embrace the beautiful art deco style with this collection of 54 illustrations printed on only one side of the page. Pages are thin, so you will need to place a few sheets between each page to color with anything besides colored pencils.

Maybe modern art is more your style. Enjoy this collection of contemporary illustrations from over 100 artists. Pages are printed on one side only. You’ll want really fine point art materials for coloring in this one.

History Coloring Books for Adults

History buffs will appreciate these coloring books. The history coloring book market is completely dominated by Dover Publishing, with their high-quality and thoroughly researched scenes. As an added plus, many of these books are super cheap, around $5 each. A great way to explore a part of history you’re unfamiliar with!

Fantasy Coloring Books for Adults

If you love feminine, fantastical illustrations you’ll love these floral fairy designs. This book features 30 illustrations printed on both sides of the page. While the paper is heavier than some coloring books, you will want to avoid markers unless you don’t mind sacrificing the image on the reverse side. Truly beautiful figures in the art nouveau style with intricate borders, but nothing too finely detailed.

With gorey maulings and topless sirens, this book is definitely not a kids’ coloring book. Learn about famous sea monsters of yore as you color them in. Thirty detailed illustrations are printed front and back with descriptions in this timeless Dover Coloring Book.

Thirty more of Marty Noble’s gorgeous ladies, this time with beautiful sets of wings, span the pages of this Dover coloring book. I just wish that Dover would print these things single-sided. Still, you can’t beat the price, at under $4!

Fashion Coloring Books for Adults

Fashion coloring books for adults are detailed and let your imagination run wild. Design your own runway lineup or revisit the fashions of the past.

Love following the royal family? Thirty illustrations feature the fashions of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. This upcoming coloring book will be released in November. (Sorry, no page previews are yet available!) Perfect for the royal baby obsessed colorist who has everything!

You’ll want to make sure you have some fine-tipped markers or sharp pencils to color this one in. This book features 30 exquisitely illustrated adaptations of Erte’s art deco covers for Harper’s Bazaar from the early 20th century.

If you love super fine details, you’ll want to pick up this fashion coloring book featuring 30 ornately-patterned kimono-wearing ladies. Creative Haven books are printed on one side and feature perforated pages for easy removal.

If you’re looking for modern, fashionable freedom, look no further than this book! Fifty-two illustrations are printed on just one side of the page, preventing problems with bleed-through from markers.

Follow the 46 first ladies and their formalwear in chronological order from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama.

Holiday Coloring Books for Adults

Get into the spirit of the season with these festive holiday coloring books. From Halloween to Christmas to the Day of the Dead, there’s a time-appropriate coloring book you can break out year after year – or whenever you are looking for a little pick me up!

I love the Dover Coloring Book “Scapes” series, and none is more festive than this one! Enjoy hours of fun coloring in thirty seasonally-appropriate scenes from a pile of Christmas presents, a variety of candy, a sea of Santas, Christmas cookies, and more. Each page also features a decorative border.

If you like the repeating patterns of ChristmasScapes but are looking for less specific imagery, WinterScapes is the book for you. It features repeating pattersn of hot cocoa, snowflakes, birds, and wolves. As a Creative Haven book, it improves upon the earlier book by also having images printed on just one side of the page.

Special Coloring Books for Adults

This coloring book is unique in that each scene is made up of tiles like a stained glass window. Shade the patches to your heart’s content and enjoy dozens of designs printed on one side of medium weight paper.

Color Therapy comes with richly hued backgrounds already filled in, and guidance for how to doodle on its pages. A must-have for someone intimidated about coloring or that loves fanciful designs. 117 heavy weight pages divided into 7 color sections.

Another 124 pages of front and back artwork to color, with backgrounds and some other elements pre-filled with rich colors.

The Best Colored Pencils, Markers, & Other Drawing Supplies for Adult Coloring Books

When you decide to start coloring, you’ll want to choose what to color with. Many people choose colored pencils. Sure, you could use dollar store colored pencils – but you may find you are pressing a lot harder to deposit the color than if you splurged a little on a higher quality set of pencils. This may not matter to some, but if you sit at a desk all day and have some wrist pain from carpal tunnel – or you’ve been outright diagnosed – you’ll want to get a nicer, softer set.

The more expensive “art” colored pencils are softer because they contain more pigment, which in turn requires you to press less hard to get that deep hue you’re going for on the page. I personally prefer the brand Caran D’Ache, but many people swear by their Prismacolors. These high-quality pencils make it easy to blend your own colors, so a set with a few dozen pencils should be perfectly adequate. However, if you want to splurge a little and get a set with over 100, why not? It’s still cheaper than therapy.

Prismacolor Colored Pencils

Sargent Colored Pencils

If you’re just getting into coloring and want a reasonably sized set for not a lot of money, Sargent has a decent pack of 50 to get you started. They won’t have as creamy a consistency as the sets above, but I’ve seen them widely recommended as an inexpensive alternative to the sets above.

Sargent Art 22-7251 50-Count Assorted Colored Pencils

Colored Pencils Accessories

Don’t forget to pick up a pencil sharpener and an eraser! A colorless blender pencil is ideal for blending and softening the edges of your colored pencil coloring. And the colored pencil accessory kit includes everything you might want to accessorize your colored pencils, including a pencil extender. A pencil extender is essential for getting more use out of your shorter, more used-up pencils without cramping your hand!

Crayons

Maybe you really want to go back to the days of childhood with a set of crayons. Hey, I’m not judging you! Crayons may be a little too wide for some of the most intricate options below, but it can really be therapeutic to just get that color down and not worry too much about the lines.

Prismacolor Art Markers

Some people swear by pens and markers for their coloring; they pretty much require that you don’t press hard (good for my fellow carpal tunnel syndrome sufferers!) and you get that really BOLD color you have been desiring. Just make sure to test a small area in the front of the book first – some coloring books’ pages are too thin to handle ink. Here are some of the best pens and markers – and gel pens for detail work! Less expensive than the professional-quality Copic markers and still quite beautiful, these art markers are double-ended, with a fat side for larger areas and a fine side for detail work. These markers are an oilier consistency than cheap markers, which means that when you overlap they don’t double over the color as noticeably.

Staedtler Triplus Fineliners

I am addicted to these gorgeous pens, which come in a convenient stand-up case and have a unique triangular body that makes them easy and ergonomic to hold. They have a super fine tip that is perfect for detail work. Even better, if you forget to cap them, a unique feature keeps them from drying up for days.

Staedtler Triplus Colors

If you like Staedtler’s fineliners, this nice pack of 20 medium width markers will be great for filling larger areas with color at a much more affordable price point than the Copics or Prismacolors.

Staedtler Triplus Color Fiber Tip Pens

Gelly Roll Gel Pens

Great for adding precise details over top of colored pencil or marker, gel pens are a fun opportunity to enjoy some 2000s era nostalgia. Buy a small set of black and white for detail work, or splurge on a big pack so you have as many colors as you desire. The Gelly Roll brand seems to consistently outperform other brands.

Follow my adult coloring books board on Pinterest for more great coloring books!

Please share this list if it was helpful to you!

I want this list to be a resource to you! Please share your favorite books that are not on this list in the comments below, or let me know if any links are broken or information is missing. Pin the image below to save it to your likes on Pinterest! CC photos by Lea Latumahina & Julie RybarczykAll coloring book covers and sample pages belong to their rightful owners.

67 Comments

If you’d like to add a book with horses, please consider my new coloring book, Fancy Prancers – A Fine Art Coloring Book of Horses, available at DeannaKraft.com and Amazon. Thank You! I love your list!

Your book list is amazingly! Who would have thought there are so many choices for us ‘oldies’? Would you mind if I linked to it from my upcoming blog post at http://myartkin.com/category/artkin-blog/ ? With your permission only, of course. This topic makes me smile every time!

Thank you so much! My Mom and I are crazy in love with coloring. I like to use all of the coloring methods. Can you suggest a marker with a variety of colors that’s fine and doesn’t bleed through the paper. I’m looking for quality & willing to invest in a very good marker. Thank you!!

First of all, I’m so happy you enjoyed this resource and that you’re sharing your love of coloring with your mom!

Depending on what you are looking for, I have a few ideas/suggestions for you:

Gel pens are your best bet if you don’t want them to soak through the page – here’s a nice big set by the original creator of the gel pen, Gelly Roll: http://amzn.to/1MZ0qiZ

Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens are quite popular with colorists, but you’ll want to test a small part in the front of the book before using them on a page. I find if you have a light hand there is minimal to no bleed-through. These are Johanna Basford’s (the artist behind Secret Garden) favorite coloring pen! Here’s the biggest set I’ve seen: http://amzn.to/1JypWZT

Regardless of the set you choose, remember that you can actually make any coloring book page marker-friendly by making a high-quality black and white scan and printing off on one side of heavier weight paper.

I hope these suggestions helped! Let me know if you have any other questions! :)

Hi Melody! Here’s a pretty popular one in the “Just Add Color” series illustrated by Sarah Walsh — I am a big fan of her fanciful illustration style. It is circus themed, but features a number of clowns! http://amzn.to/1ULFoKI

If you are looking for clowns only, it looks like there are a few coloring books on Amazon that are more “scary” clown themed, but I can’t speak to their quality not having seen them in person. Maybe they are more what you’re looking for, though!http://amzn.to/1ULFORshttp://amzn.to/1FECWcG

What a wonderful (and thorough) list! I would be so thrilled if you included my coloring book! It’s full of goofy dinosaurs, with lots of great details to color in. You can take a look here: etsy.com/listing/246078292

Thanks again for this lovely list! I use Caran D’Ache, too, so I totally get your love for them :)
Serena

Great and comprehensive. You didn’t mention Faber Castell polychromos pencils..they are superb. You are also missing out on the French publishers Hachette’s books . Google, “art thérapie anti Stress. http://www.hachette-pratique.com/art-therapie The French were the ones who started the current ‘fad” ..even though most of us true adults colourists have been colouring all our lives..( and the Dover publishers know this as they’ve really been publishing adult colouring books for decades.)

I’ve been meaning to look into Hachette’s books in more detail, as I’ve been wanting to publish a French translation of this post and wanted to include some French publishers. Do you have a favorite Hachette book?

Hi, Thanks! I could not see how to reply to your reply..lol..
The fairy tale ( contes de fées) book by Hachette’s is adorable, as is their forêt féeriques. I am impressed at all you DID manage to cover! Will be sharing this post for sure! :)

Mary Taylor-Lee Checked them both out online and they are gorgeous! I’d love to get my hands on that fairy tales book especially. Since you mentioned Dover, how would you compare the quality of the designs/paper to Dover’s?

And thank you!! :3 I (obviously, I guess!) have gotten a little obsessive about these lists, but I’ve really been enjoying putting them together and indulging in my coloring obsession. Would love it if you shared it!! <3

Great article, but you did not mentions the Color Me Your Way Books, by Pam Smart, and American artists and the books are printed here in the USA on the most wonderful paper ever! http://colormeyourway.com/CMYW/Welcome.html

Love your lists!! Do you have a list of coloring books that have pale outlines? Thats my only complaint with coloring books, are the black & heavy outlines that are hard to cover, especially when using pencils or light colors. Thank you!! Sherri

Hi Sherri, sorry for not spotting your comment sooner! I actually DO have a recommendation that I think you will really like! The illustrator Pepin van Roojen does a variety of “Artists’ Coloring Books” with very pale lines that practically disappear once they’re colored in. His work is absolutely gorgeous, and he’s done a variety of different styles, from fashion to florals to patterns. Check it out: http://amzn.to/1MlKUKk

Really nice web site. Gives sample pix. I see many I like that I’ve not seen before. I mount mine on colored construction paper and give to nieces and nephews for their bedroom walls. They love them. Sometimes we “color” together. I’ve also used certain books with my junior high students to match mythology or -say- an ocean themed book, etc. It is very relaxing for them and sometimes I have the art teacher “judge” for a top prize of a large candy bar, but all get prizes.

Clever, what’s your story? How did you get the coloring “bug?” How did you find all these fantastic books about adult coloring? I got hooked after buying a dragon coloring book at a restaurant/gift shop on the Interstate. Colored and mounted 2 each for my great nephew and step great nephew. Every scale a different color. Turned out beautifully. They loved ’em. I should have given myself a candy bar!! LOL.

Hi Dianna, I’ve actually been coloring “adult” coloring books for several years, and I’ve enjoyed Dover’s books since I was younger. When I saw the trend was really starting to take off I looked for lists of the best books and wasn’t really finding anything that I would have found useful, so I did tons of research on Amazon/in craft stores/etc and put together my own list! (If there are any books or categories that you think are missing, let me know!!) I hope you’ve found it useful! :)

Adrienne, Much thanks for doing allll that leg work for the rest of us. I, too, started w/Dover, only I was doing the cut outs. Put magnetic tape on the backs of the dolls and edges of the dresses so they could be put on refrigerators. My students and I sent them to the Sioux Indian girls in schools in the Dakotas–reservations there make up 4 of the 6 poorest counties in America. We also sent them to the Republic of Belarus orphanages. Kids there had been exposed to the Chernobyl radiation. Most kids there had never had a toy to call their own. Guess I’ll be a kid forever–I love to color and do cut outs!!!! You’ll get no apology from me. Dianna

That’s incredible!! It’s amazing that you got your students involved in projects like that. I actually visited Chernobyl and parts of Ukraine when I studied abroad (before all the current unrest there) and that whole area is definitely a very depressed region. I am sure they treasured the paper dolls you and your students sent.

Hi Erika! Aquarelles are really nice, good choice! :) You’ll definitely want to look for coloring books that are only printed on one side. Creative Haven is a popular brand of one-sided coloring books with lots and lots of different titles. http://amzn.to/1OU5Awy The paper is not especially thick, but if you tear the pages out of the book (they are perforated) and use something like painter’s tape to tape them down to a board, the pages shouldn’t curl too much.

Really, though, you’ll want the thickest paper you can find whenever you’re using a wet medium. There is a talented coloring book artist named Pepin van Roojen who makes very nice “artists'” coloring books, with thick pages and very thin lines that disappear into your artwork once you lay down color. Right now it looks like a lot of them are on sale: http://amzn.to/21Qm0gE

Johanna Basford has also released an “artists’ edition” of Secret Garden which is printed on one side, has thicker and bigger paper, etc. If you like her books you’ll like using your Aquarelles on this: http://amzn.to/1OU6yJi

Hi Adrienne! Thank you for putting this list together. It is awesome. I love the mandala coloring books.
What do you think about the “swear words” coloring books. Have you hear anything about it. My husband says thats the only one he will color lol.
Keep up the great job, I always enjoy you posts.

I love mandalas too! You really get to hyper focus on your color scheme. :)

I just saw those swear word books the other day… they’re pretty silly, I guess they’re trying to make coloring a little “edgier.” xD Personally, I think they look a little too simple, like you’d color them for like 10 minutes and be done. They seem like they might be fun for crafting with though? Since they’re getting popular, there are also a TON of imitators out there, selling knockoffs. Crazy.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, though! Glad you find the lists useful!! :)

Jean, I totally feel your pain — I wear glasses and sometimes coloring makes me feel like my head is spinning! You might like some of Thaneeya McArdle’s Design Originals coloring books… the spaces are generally a bit bigger in those ones than in Creative Haven and other brands, and they are a lot of fun! http://amzn.to/1Wz7qpT

What you’ll really want to avoid are some of the cheaply produced “knockoff” coloring books since I’ve found that they often print the designs too small.

I’m not sure it’s right to post this here, but I’m *desperate* for feedback from someone who seems to know the market extremely well. I have made an adult coloring book and it is for sale online. I would *love* to know what you think of it. You don’t have to buy it to see it. All 10 pages are posted at http://www.annbeckettillustrations.com . It’s quite different from the books listed here. Will you please look and let me know what you think? Pretty please? My email is beckett.ann@gmail.com

Terese Stanton, thank you for your appreciation. I’m so glad you like it. The website is an online store and you can purchase using PayPal, or a credit or debit card. You can also buy it on my Face Book page, Imaging Lunacy. I appreciate your support!

Ann Beckett, I just love ur imagery! I feel we must be soul sisters. I have recently launched my own website to promote my original unique coloring pages. and soon, I hope to have prints of my original artwork available too. http://www.drawingmomentum.com/ I came here searching for anyone interested in reviewing my coloring pages… I would love to connect w/ u! :)

Tiffany Carman, Thanks so much for checking out my work, and I agree! We’re definitely on the same page! (Bah dum bum! Pun totally intended). It seems we draw from the same sources of inspiration – literally and philosophically. I like your work! And I’m impressed with your marketing. I’ve flagged on my own marketing in order to pursue some other interests, but the book is still for sale and I’ll get back to it. I’d love to connect some time. Feel free to email me, Beckett.ann@gmail.com. Peace, Ann

What a great idea, Benji! I can’t promise I’ll be able to put together that list super soon, but I’d like to do it — you can join the newsletter if you’d like to be notified when I have a chance to put it together! :)

Thomas Kinkade by Posh. Beautiful pictires of his paintings to color. A full colored page is on the left, you copy color the page on the right. About 70 pages, very detailed to color, lots of shading and blending. I would use Prismacolor Premier pencils along with Prismacolor Verithins. Verithins are thin pencils for tiny detailed work. All of Prismacolor products match each. $12.99 or less on Amazon.

Thanks for the great article. It must have been some work to put all these together. My personal favorite is Anti-Stress Patterns Inspirational Abstract Designs to Calm and Relax by ArtsON which I found on amazon. I have plenty of coloring books at home but this one, with its beautiful and symetric designs lets me unwind and relax completely. I am coloring already the 3rd one now!

My uncle has Alzheimers and the doctor said coloring would help him. He love the Old West and Cowboys. He would need a coloring book that is NOT too intricate. He is 83. any ideas would be appreciated.

Coloring is definitely a relaxing activity for soothing those with conditions like Alzheimer’s and also maintaining motor skills. Dover makes some historically themed coloring books that are pretty inexpensive and not insanely detailed… here are two I spotted: http://amzn.to/2g79eKD & http://amzn.to/2gviqZY — The first is Old West themed, while the second is more centered around horses (but still in that time period). I hope this helps!

I am also writing a review right now for the Christian coloring book Soul Coats that I think has very impressive illustrations. There are a few different illustrators for the book, but most of the pages have thicker outlines/larger spaces. I’d check it out if your mom would be interested in a book that includes some biblical scenes! If you’re subscribed to my mailing list, you should get an email when I publish the review, but for now, here’s a link to the book on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2i4F2gO

Yes, I do have some recommendations! :) If you are looking for traditional color by number books for adult colorists, Creative Haven has a great line-up — here’s a search for some of them: http://amzn.to/2i8ZQUu

If you’re looking for something a little more unique, there are some geometrically-inspired color by numbers called Querkles. They are made entirely of overlapped circles, and the colors are shaded in dark or light tones to create an image. Here’s some of those: http://amzn.to/2i9gByV